Apparatus for untwisting and shearing a length of twisted conductive strands and method of untwisting conductive strands and cutting the untwisted strands

An apparatus (10) is provided which both untwists and shears a forward end of twisted conductive strands of a multi-stranded wire (40). A pair of strand receiving members (20, 30) having acutely angled front surfaces (24, 34) are slidably disposed and in spaced relationship by a support (12). To untwist the strands the twisted strands are inserted into and passed through a wire passage (26) and into guide bores (27) of the first strand receiving member (20). To shearthe strands, the strands are then passed from the first strand recieving member (20) and into guide bores (37) of the second strand receiving member (30). Strand receiver (30) is then displaced with respectto strand receiver (20) with the strands extending between the front surfaces being sheared apart and provided with an acutely angled end defining an elliptical surface. The strand shearing is preferably across the minor axis of the ellipse.